Trades Unionists are being urged to campaign and vote in the forthcoming Police Commissioner elections, in light of news that the racist BNP intends to campaign for the post.
The British National Party (BNP) is planning to stand a candidate in Sussex for the newly-created police commissioner job. If the BNP candidate was elected, it would be a disaster for community relations, and risk serious public disorder throughout Sussex, says one of the leading candidates for the post.
Unite member Paul Richards, who is seeking the Labour nomination to be a police commissioner candidate in Sussex, is warning this week that unless people in East and West Sussex turn out to vote, the BNP might sneak in through the back door.
Mr Richards, an adviser to the last Labour government on community relations and counter-terrorism, has conducted an analysis of BNP websites in Sussex. Mr Richards’ analysis shows that:
- This week, the BNP deputy leader Simon Darby made a call for BNP candidates to step forward to stand in Sussex for police commissioner
- BNP ‘table tops’ (ie provocative street stalls) are planned in Littlehampton, Bognor Regis, Lancing and Emsworth, according to BNP organisers
- 60,000 leaflets have been distributed throughout Sussex, including in East Preston, Angmering, Ruslington, Ferring, Lancing and Barnham.
- The BNP is seeking to build on the success of BNP parish councillor John Robinson, a councillor in Barnham parish council, in standing more candidates for town and parish councils
- The BNP south east headquarters in Hastings is gearing up for the Sussex police elections in November
Paul Richards, Labour’s hopeful, said: ‘It is now clear that the BNP, which does so much damage in our communities, is fundraising and organising to stand a candidate for police commissioner in Sussex.
"As a Labour Party candidate, I will stand against the BNP, expose their falsehoods, and argue for fairness and tolerance. But it will be down to the voters to turn out on election day to stop the BNP being elected.
‘A low turnout might favour the extremists, and that would be a disaster. If the BNP won, they would get £80,000 salary, plus £100,000-plus to appoint staff."
Each candidate requires 100 signatures, and a deposit of £5,000 to stand for the new posts, which replace the now-defunct police authorities. The police commissioners will have wide-ranging powers, including setting budgets, representing the public to the police, and hiring and firing the chief constable for Sussex. The election is on Thursday 15th November 2012.
The trades union movement must unite and fight the fascist threat in Sussex. No pasaran!
ReplyDeleteAll anti-Fascists and those who respect the right of working people to organise independently through Trade Unions and Community Groups need to get involved in this campaign to halt another insidious attempt by the BNP and their EDL thugs to spread ideas of hate and division. The prospect of a Nazi Police Commissioner controlling the police response to the BNP/EDL on our streets doesn't bear thinking about.
ReplyDeleteAs a member of Unite, I find myself in a state of ever increasing confusion.
ReplyDeleteIt was once accepted that every union member from what ever union that may be, that we would by default vote for our labour backers, however this is a long time past, as I am sure the officers on this site have been aware for far too long labour have not been forthcoming with the support they used to give to unions.
As such, with slogans such as "british jobs for britih workers" i'm shocked to say but the bnp seem to be more of a socialist party than our own labour party.
There have been murmers for some time on ground roots level's that we should withdraw our support from the labour party, and although i may well have chosen the wrong thread to express this opinion, i think i speak for a fair number of our members, when i say that time has come.
All democratic parties should unite against the BNP, but they have discredited themselves with their infighting, Nick Griffin has proved himself to be a clown, I am putting myself forward as a possible Conservative candidate and I condemn the BNP for what they are a fringe group of racists. http://pauldendle.blogspot.com/
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